Sunday, March 30, 2003

Golden Panthers rally, win WKU series with 10-9 win
Box Score

For the second time in three days, the Florida International baseball team edged Western Kentucky 10-9 Sunday afternoon at University Park. They were led offensively by freshman infielder Luis Rivera (5-for-6, four RBI, two doubles, two runs scored), who scored a game-tying run in the eight inning and then knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Golden Panthers had jumped out to a big lead thanks to an eight-hit, eight-run fourth inning. Freshman infielder Bryan Pullin started the inning off with single to center field. Senior outfielder Adam Summerell then reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second base. Junior outfielder Ricardo Nanita kicked off the scoring with a two-run home run to right center. Senior infielder Skip Adams followed that up with a successful bunt, junior outfielder Fernando Alvarez singled through the right side and then freshman infielder Jimmy Bacon singled through the right side to score Adams. After freshman outfielder Brian Aragon got hit by a pitch, Rivera cleared the bases, racking up three RBI with a double down the left field line. Pullin then doubled down the left field line to score Rivera and Summerell finished the onslaught with an RBI single to center field.

FIU junior righthander Andrew Edwards dominated the early going, striking out the first four batters he faced and five of the first six overall. Edwards finished with seven strikeouts through four innings of work.

The Hilltoppers eventually got on the board in the third. David Lower doubled down the left field line, Rafael Vallejo walked and then Matt Johnston singled up the middle to get Lower home.

Down 8-1 in the fifth inning, the Hilltoppers continued to rally, this time on a Johnston two-run home run.

They then rolled up four more runs in sixth to pull within a run at 8-7. Tim Grogan batted in two with a single through the right side, and Antone Towns followed with an RBI single. Brent Miller finished the scoring with an RBI single to right field.

In the top of the eighth, WKU finally grabbed the lead on a Matt Gunning two-run home run.

With WKU leading 9-8, FIU quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning. Rivera doubled to spark the rally. He then advanced to third on a groundout and then scored on a wild pitch.

Adams singled to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning. Freshman infielder Mike Lopez pinch hit and singled through the right side to get Adams to third. After Lopez stole second and Aragon walked, Rivera hit his game-winning single through the left side.

The Golden Panthers next take to the road to face Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro, Tenn. this weekend. The first game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. Friday night.